Customer Reviews

A Voice Behind Thunder (Indigo)

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We all have been there: faced with a decision that could either be the greatest move in our lives or one of the most disastrous. Try as we might to weigh both sides and make a sensible decision there is always something inside that tells us what way we are supposed to go. Some call it our conscience. I have heard others refer to it as "the little voice". The latter came to me as I finished reading the debut novel by Mississippi author Carrie Elizabeth Greene called A Voice Behind Thunder.

She has managed to craft together a storyline that is not only universal but somber in its message. We meet a couple who like many are trying to balance their personal lives with their faith and daily responsibilities. It's not easy as we know, but they are trying to please each other while being true to their faith. You have the husband, Donovan, who believes there is a place for everything and everything should be in its place. In his efforts to be all things to all people, though, he unwittingly leaves his wife, Rachel, unattended and easy prey for temptation which comes in the form of a manipulator named Marcus.

The chain of events that occur next threaten to destroy them all, but hope is not lost. Remember, Donovan does want to do the right thing, and though he is confronted with challenges that could end his life he remains true to what he believes to be his calling: helping others. When the truth begins to unfold he has a conversation with Marcus that underscores what I believe to be the message of the entire book.

"Marcus, you are the only one who can make the difference," Donovan says during a heated exchange. "Only you have the power to calm this raging storm. There is a small voice; if we listen we can hear it speaking softly to us. Far behind the thunder in our minds, it's speaking to our hearts. Listen to the voice, Marcus, and God will help you do the right thing."

Marcus' next words mirror the feelings of some who have hardened their hearts: "I stopped listening a long time ago, and I don't want to heart it anyway. I like what I'm doing. I did a lot to accomplish this, I don't want to change." (p. 180)

I don't want to give the rest of the story away, but I think all of us do well to read this book and see how we can best respond to that `voice' we are faced with from time to time. Kudos to Greene for helping us to realize that with all the hustle and bustle we face in life, when it seems we are all alone maybe it's because we just aren't listening hard enough. Don't worry, though. There is still time, so let's begin right now.

A VOICE BEHIND THUNDER seems to be a mix of genres. Sometimes it reads like Christian fiction, sometimes like a romance, sometimes like urban fiction, and other times like a suspense novel, there is no real clear cut place to put this story. Donovan and Rachel Kerr are married, but seem to be having problems in their marriage. Donovan is completely devoted to his Christian beliefs and uses them to preach the word to anyone who will listen. In his line of work as a narcotics detective, it is not always easy to have a captive audience. Between Donovan's Christian duties and job responsibilities, his wife, Rachel is feeling neglected because he has no time for her. Rachel on the other hand is finding Marcus, her neighbor and head of their apartment complex security, intriguing and she cannot deny the mutual attraction.

Marcus is a former police officer who has turned his life away from the police force into an illegal enterprise. His goals are to rule the east coast drug game and get to know his sexy neighbor, Rachel. However, Marcus is being pulled in other directions in regards to his business and the voice in his head seems to be of a spiritual nature. With the spiritual side of him seeming to take over, he must deal with his transgressions and hope to be delivered.

Donovan and Marcus' paths cross as an investigation leads Donovan to Marcus. The two strike up an unlikely friendship, but will betrayal and other forces destroy all their lives?

A VOICE BEHIND THUNDER is, unfortunately, a story with a good premise, but not executed properly. The story takes place in the late 1970s, yet it didn't feel like the era. There are multiple subplots with differing characters thrown in the mix and it doesn't help that what may have been a romantic storyline, really was a crossbreed of genres. Even though the novel is under the romance imprint, there was no real romance. The characters were under-developed and at times unbelievable. With the spiritual nature of the story, it would seem that would have been the main focus, but there was just too much going on in this novel for it to really work. This novel also included a drug war, political corruption and murder. With no clear plot and fragmented storyline, A VOICE BEHIND THUNDER doesn't reach its potential. It must be noted that I was reading an advance reader's copy.

Reviewed by Cashana Seals
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

Greene has out done herself with this book. This is a must read, please do a sequel, Ms. Greene. I would love to know what happens with Donovan and Rachel.